Latest news with #Shashi
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
A love that is unconventional and poetic
It does not happen regularly that authors devote parts of a novel to epistolary storytelling. It is a risky terrain, that too when the story is predictable and the plot feels almost flat. But Pinaki Gangopadhyay's Yet, Remember Me navigates it well, and his novel is a delightful read, even though the storyline itself may not seem that exciting. What keeps readers hooked until the end are the letters being exchanged between Shashi and Aditi—a celebrated Bengali couple at the heart of this novel. The novel is about this couple separating after more than two decades of marriage; they are on their final date, trying to find resolution. Now they have memories of life they lived, despite so much love, they decided to part ways. Eros (passionate love) has subsided in their lives, and they have moved to agape love—selfless and unconditional love. Shashi is a celebrated poet of his time, and Aditi is a literature professor obsessively in love with Rabi Thakur (Rabindranath Tagore). She is an idealistic woman whose love for Shashi is an aesthetic transference—a projection of her love and admiration for Tagore. Naturally, Aditi falls for Shashi because his persona echoes her romanticised image of Rabi. Through their conversations, it is gradually revealed how Shashi is both similar to and distinct from Tagore.
News18
4 days ago
- News18
UP Woman ‘Poisoned' Husband — An Obstacle In Her Love Life. But When He Didn't Die, She...
Last Updated: Sunil Yadav was first poisoned and admitted to a hospital, where his condition improved. But his wife, Shashi, allegedly mixed poison in his curd again, after which he died. A disturbing case has come to light from Firozabad's Tundla, where a woman has been arrested for allegedly killing her husband with the help of her lover. The murder, which was reportedly carried out on the second attempt, brings back memories of the Sonam Raghuvanshi case, where she was accused of killing her husband during their honeymoon after multiple failed attempts. According to a report in Amar Ujala, the latest case came to light after the mother of the deceased, Sunil Yadav, approached the police on July 24. The report mentioned that Sunil's wife, Shashi, and her alleged lover, Yadvendra, have now been arrested for his murder. The duo had reportedly been in a relationship for over a year and allegedly saw Sunil as an obstacle in their way. Poison Ordered Online And Mixed In Curd The report, quoting the police, mentioned that Shashi and Yadvendra planned the murder together. On May 12, Shashi allegedly served poison-filled curd to Sunil, following which his health started to worsen. He was taken to the hospital and later discharged after some improvement. But two days later, on May 14, she reportedly repeated the act. This time, Sunil did not survive. His family performed the last rites as they were unaware of what had happened. It was only after Sunil's mother filed a complaint naming Shashi and her boyfriend that the case reopened. Investigations revealed that the poison had been ordered online with the help of Yadvendra. According to the police, Shashi may have been influenced by the case of Sonam Raghuvanshi. Sonam and her alleged boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, were accused of murdering her husband, Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. His killing was reportedly carried out after three failed attempts. In Sunil's case, too, police say it was the second attempt that turned fatal. Police Relying On Other Evidence One of the major challenges in this investigation is the absence of a post-mortem. Since Sunil's family did not suspect foul play at the time, the body was cremated. But the police, as per the report, have collected other evidence such as Sunil's clothes, bedsheets and phone call records to build their case in the court. Sunil and Shashi had been married for 12 years and were parents to two young children: 10-year-old Anshu and 6-year-old Deepanshi. Sunil worked in Firozabad and also looked after farming duties in his village. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
‘Take humane approach in solving strays crisis'
THE country is facing a serious stray dog overpopulation problem, one that experts and activists say has escalated into a national issue requiring immediate action by the Federal Government. Animal welfare groups are sounding the alarm as the problem is straining their resources and raising serious ethical and animal welfare concerns. Social activist S. Shashi Kumar said the crisis reflected not only a breakdown in animal welfare policy but also a deeper failure of governance. 'This is no longer just a local authority issue, but a national crisis. 'What Malaysia needs is urgent federal intervention and structured collaboration with NGOs (non-governmental organisations), as practised in progressive nations like Singapore,' he said. Shashi said many local councils were using inhumane and outdated methods of stray population control, drawing criticism for what he described as the normalisation of cruelty under the guise of management. Yesterday about 200 people gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Putrajaya, calling for the government to stop the culling of stray dogs. Shashi presented a memorandum to a PMO representative, calling for a reform of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015 and to look into their proposals for humane methods of managing the stray animal. Efforts taken by NGOs Scene from a recent protest outside Wisma Negri against the proposed culling of stray dogs in Negri Sembilan. — Filepic In April this year, a nationwide coalition of 39 animal welfare organisations submitted three proposals to Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to address the stray population crisis for both cats and dogs, seeking balance in public safety and comfort, as well as to reform the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015. The key components in the proposal were to enforce the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return-Manage (TNVRM) programme in a large scale, set up government-run stray animal shelters nationwide and use hybrid approach to address public complaints on stray animal disturbance. Shashi, who is also Global Human Rights Federation president, said the current methods used by the local councils to manage strays, especially dogs, included culling. Killing animals, he said, was no longer acceptable in a civilised society. There is a need to have more compassion, modern governance and sustainable public policies in handling the matter, he added. Kalaivanan: NGOs should be allowed to bail out dogs for free as they are helping the government solve a problem. 'TNVRM strategy, which involves neutering the dogs and returning them to where they were picked up, can avoid the 'vacuum-effect' where removed animals are replaced by new unsterilised ones,' said Shashi. 'Government-operated shelters in every district can provide temporary care and protection for stray animals, serving as a long-term investment in public safety and health, as well as animal education and welfare.' He said that as some local councils have set up cat shelters, there should also be dog shelters. 'The third suggestion is a hybrid approach in handling strays that are reported as disturbance, specifically dogs. 'Local councils can work with animal welfare NGOs to assess problematic dogs, where the canines posing any risk can be removed from public spaces and sent to a shelter to be rehabilitated, while others in the same pack undergo TNVRM,' he said. Shashi said the proposals were supported by the 39 organisations. Most dog shelters in the country, he said, were currently run by individuals or community groups with limited financial means and minimal government support, if any. According to him, many of these shelters are on the brink of closure and unable to sustain the rising cost for food, medical care, and daily operations. Shashi describes the overpopulation of stray dogs a national crisis that demands urgent government intervention. 'Thousands of animals depend on these shelters for survival. Without immediate financial intervention, their lives will hang in the balance,' he said. StarMetro has reached out to the ministry and is awaiting its comments. Call for free bailout There is a nationwide movement called Stray Lives Matter, to end the abuse and killing of homeless animals. A campaign began in October last year, following a public outcry after a female stray dog in Terengganu named Kopi was shot dead by a Besut District Council officer during an animal control operation. The dog had previously gained Internet fame for a video showing her playing gently with a kitten. Public outrage escalated into legal action and calls for reform of the country's animal welfare laws through a full-fledged national movement. Also speaking on behalf of the coalition is Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia president R. Kalaivanan. Rajesh: It's crucial to amend AWA 2015 and remove any powers granted to local authorities to shoot and kill. In a media statement, he said one of the main barriers to rescuing stray dogs across the country was the bailout fees imposed by local councils, ranging from hundreds to thousands of ringgit per dog. He said NGOs should be allowed to bail out dogs for free as they were helping the government solve a problem in the community. 'While we are willing to help save the lives of these animals, the burden cannot fall solely on the NGOs and their shelters. 'It should be a shared responsibility between the government, NGOs and shelters. 'The government must take its fair share of responsibility in supporting animal welfare efforts, especially when it comes to financial backing and creating policies that enable NGOs to perform their roles effectively,' he said. NGOs, he said, must be given sufficient time to find shelters or permanent homes for rescued animals. 'We propose that NGOs be given at least 14 days to find suitable arrangements for each animal, ensuring that every rescued animal has a proper chance for rehabilitation and adoption. 'The overpopulation of stray dogs is caused by the local authorities' lack of management, and the solution seems to be inhumane methods including reactive culling of the animals,' he noted. Reform of AWA Shashi, who is also Selangor Furry Future Association president, is seeking amendments to AWA 2015 and an end to inhumane practices by local authorities in controlling the population of stray animals, especially dogs. While the Act offered a glimmer of hope in animal welfare, he said it had loopholes that needed to be amended. AWA 2015 contains 64 sections largely directed at pet owners and individuals who commit acts of cruelty or fail to comply with prescribed regulations, he said. While the Act emphasises responsible ownership and the prevention of animal cruelty, it lacks provisions that hold local council officers accountable for the inhumane capture or brutal treatment of stray animals, he pointed out. Vulnerable stray dogs continue to be abused or killed across the country for just wanting to live, he added. With the increasing number of stray dogs, Shashi said animal rescuers, independent feeders and shelter operators were working tirelessly under immense financial and emotional strain to care for the animals. 'Some stray dogs caught by local council dog catchers risk being mistreated or killed, if not adopted in time. 'Some local councils charge exorbitant fees to release captured dogs. 'This leaves the animal rescuers facing heartbreaking decisions concerning dogs' lives,' he said. According to lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, certain provisions in AWA 2015 are vague, lhence it is used by the authorities in a manner not in line with the original intention. 'It also lacks some provisions needed in this age in line with latest developments. 'Section 30(1) and (2) read together has been construed by the authorities as allowing the shooting and killing of dogs.' He said that when this Act was proposed in Parliament in 2015, it was clearly stated that there would be no more shooting of dogs. 'Despite this, the authorities are still relying on the Act to shoot and kill stray dogs,' he said. 'The solution to this problem,' Rajesh said, 'is in amending the offending provision and removing any powers granted to local authorities to shoot and kill.' The Veterinary Services Department should be the only authority empowered to put dogs to sleep in humane ways, he said. 'Further, Section 34 of the Act grants powers to animal welfare officers in situations involving animals in distress. 'The Act allows an officer to destroy an animal at their own discretion, without requiring certification or confirmation from a registered veterinary surgeon. 'These are powers involving the lives of animals and ought not be a power that is delegated,' he highlighted. Rajesh said Section 4 of the Act provided for the establishment of the Animal Welfare Board (AWB), but noted that its membership, which meant to advocate animal welfare, remained limited in scope, such as head of agencies. 'To ensure meaningful representation, the board should entirely comprise members of civil society. 'It is crucial that the AWA 2015 undergo comprehensive reforms to address and correct these shortcomings,' he said.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
NGO submits memorandum calling for immediate halt to the culling of strays
ABOUT 200 people gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Precinct 1, Putrajaya, calling for an immediate halt to the culling of stray dogs. Among them was social activist and Global Human Rights Federation president S. Shashi Kumar, who handed a memorandum to a representative from the PMO. The memorandum called for the Federal Government to reform the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and look into the federation's proposals for humane methods of managing strays. Shashi said the increasing number of stray animals, particularly dogs, was a national crisis that must be addressed by the government. 'Instead, the government has taken the shortcut approach by killing these animals. 'These strays are also caught (by local councils) and placed in pounds with heavy 'bail' fees. Local councils charge up to RM2,000 per dog, which is extortion,' he claimed. Shashi said the group wanted the government to intervene by working with non-governmental organisations championing animal welfare to solve the problem, including allocating funds towards the matter. The handover was witnessed by the group, who held up banners and placards in a show of support. Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress, who was madly in love with Shashi Kapoor, had given blockbusters with Jeetendra, once questioned Rajesh Khanna's stardom, she is...
In the golden era of Hindi cinema, a young actress found herself captivated by a charismatic figure who wasn't even part of her film's cast. His mere presence on set disrupted the shoot, leaving her flustered and unable to focus. This unexpected encounter marked the beginning of a memorable association between two iconic personalities of Indian cinema. Who is this actress? The actress we are talking about is Sharmila Tagore, and the man who left her spellbound was none other than Late Shashi Kapoor. During the filming of 'Kashmir Ki Kali,' where Sharmila starred opposite legendary actor Late Shammi Kapoor, Shashi made an unannounced visit to the set to see his brother. Sharmila recalled that upon seeing Shashi, she was so mesmerized by his handsomeness that she couldn't concentrate on her scenes. The situation escalated to the point where director Shakti Samanta had to politely ask Shashi to leave so that the shoot could proceed smoothly. What films did Sharmila Tagore and Shashi Kapoor do together? Sharmila's admiration for Shashi didn't end there. She described him as the most handsome man she had ever seen and expressed that she enjoyed working with him more than any other co-star. Their on-screen chemistry was evident in several films they did together, including 'Waqt,' 'Aa Gale Lag Jaa,' and My Love. However, after this, she collaborated with 'Jumping Jack of Bollywood,' Jeetendra in 'Mere Humsafar' helmed by Dulal Guha and 'Khushboo' helmed by Gulzar, which turned out to be a successful collaboration between two actors. When Sharmila Tagore questioned Rajesh Khanna's stardom? Sharmila has also worked in many hit films with Late Rajesh Khanna. The actress has also written the preface of co-star Rajesh Khanna's biography 'Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna'. In which she wrote 'Why he became a struggler from a superstar. He could not maintain his success. Like his friendship, Kaka also let his stardom slip from his hands, he did not change with time, people started making fun of him. This was the reason for his falling career graph.' It is worth mentioning that both of them have worked together in superhit films like Aradhana, Amar Prem, Daag and Avishkar between the years 1960 and 1970. But in Aradhana which came in the year 1969, they created history together. For the unversed, Aradhana is recognized as one of the 17 consecutive successful films of Rajesh Khanna from 1969 to 1971. Aradhana became a massive success in both India and at that time the Soviet Union (now known as Russian Federation).
